Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
She lay in bed, tossing and turning.
It was a sleepless night.
…
It was already Christmas, and it usually snows during wintertime in N City. Su Yue woke up early to settle some orders and worked until the afternoon. She didn’t even have time to enjoy a sip of water.
“Mommy, play outside.”
It stopped snowing in the morning. The sun was out too, and the heaps of snow on the roads made Xiaojiao’s heart flutter.
She held Su Yue’s hand and insisted that she bring her out.
Su Yue stopped working and smiled at Xiaojiao. “Xiaojiao, where do you want to go?”
Her helper had gone back to China a few days ago to attend her son’s wedding.
They were the only people at home, and Su Yue hadn’t brought Xiaojiao out because it had been snowing in the past two days. So, she made Xiaojiao play at home while she did her work.
Su Yue thought that it was about time for her to bring Xiaojiao out to play since it had stopped snowing.
Xiaojiao said, “Build snowman at the square.”
Their neighbor had built a snowman in their courtyard yesterday. The little lass had been wanting to try building one and she couldn’t wait any longer.
“Sure.” Su Yue smiled and nodded before adding, “Give Mommy 10 minutes, alright?”
She needed 10 minutes to finish up some urgent work matters.
Xiaojiao nodded obediently. “Okay.”
Then she headed to the sofa and picked up her jacket and put it on.
Su Yue was comforted as she watched her.
She finished up her work as fast as possible.
Both of them wrapped themselves up thoroughly; wearing gloves, hats and masks. Only their eyes were revealed amidst the get-up.
Both of them were wearing a pink down coat. Su Yue was wearing a pink beanie and had let down her hair. Her eye bags had turned pink from the cold.
The wind made her tear as well.
She was terrified of the cold that she kept on trembling. Xiaojiao, on the other hand, had the time of her life as she passed handfuls of snow to Su Yue. The little girl let her build a snowman for her.
“Faster Mommy. Keep going! They’re almost done,” Xiaojiao said as she pointed at a family of four who was building a snowman not too far away.
They only had two people. Furthermore, they were ‘weaker’—a woman and a child. How could they be faster than the family of four?
Su Yue frowned, but she didn’t want to dampen the little girl’s mood, and so she hastened her speed.
The mother and daughter were panting before they even completed the body of the snowman. People around them, who had started later, were already done with their snowman.
“I miss Daddy,” Xiaojiao lamented, looking downwards as she frowned.
Parents always brought their children there during Christmas. There was a huge Christmas tree in the middle of the square, decorated with colorful blinking lights just like stars.
The atmosphere was tense.
The mother and daughter could not join in the festive atmosphere.
At this time last year, Xiaojiao wasn’t able to walk with a stable gait in the snow. Jiaojiao carried her around the Christmas tree and built her many mini, special snowman.
When the little lass’ hands turned red from the cold, he would stuff her hands near his mouth alternately to warm them up.
Back then, many were envious of their family of three. They always commented on how Su Yue and Jiao Chen were so suited for each other. They also often mentioned how adorable Xiaojiao was and how she resembled her.
Standing there today, the place hadn’t changed, but the people had.
Su Yue pressed her lips and took a deep breath. She bent down and carried Xiaojiao with a smile on her face. She encouraged, “It’s alright. We have to give it our best. If we don’t give up, we can definitely finish it.”
